That said, if you relish the aroma of gasoline at the pump on a hot summer day, you're definitely not a weirdo. Just remember that benzene is a carcinogen that's pretty dangerous to inhale for long periods of time or at high concentrations. So take a deep breath and smell the petrol. But maybe just one little whiff.
Gasoline Activates the Mesolimbic Pathway
Benzene and other hydrocarbons, when inhaled, have a suppressing effect on the nervous system, which results in a temporary, euphoric feeling. It produces a pleasurable sensation that's not unlike alcohol or a host of other drugs.
What immediate health effects can result from gasoline exposure? Breathing gasoline vapor can cause headache, nausea, and dizziness. Extremely high levels can cause fainting and even death. Gasoline in the air can also irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.
It's called petrol sniffing and the person who does that is called a petrol sniffer. Petrol sniffing: The practice or habit of inhaling petrol fumes for a narcotic effect. [ Lexico] Or perhaps petrol smell addiction or euosmia.
The U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) states that the irresistibly sweet smell of benzene is so potent, a human's nose can begin to detect it at a miniscule . 25 parts of gasoline per million parts of air. This affinity for benzene isn't new news.
This is because the biological process of numbing our nerves activates the mesolimbic pathway, known as the brain's reward pathway. Every time our olfactory nerves receive a dose of benzene, the mesolimbic system releases dopamine molecules – one of the pleasure, feel-good hormones – thereby inviting addiction.
Desiderosmia (Craving of Olfaction): A Novel Symptom Associated with Iron Deficiency Anemia | Blood | American Society of Hematology.
Yes, you read that right. Snif's Dead Dinosaur fragrance (which also comes in an air freshener for $9 if you want to give it a test run first) is an "ode to the addictive smell of gasoline, garage hangs, and simpler times," according to the brand's site.
A Leak in Your Fuel System
A gas leak is a very serious issue that may cause you to smell gasoline while you're driving your car. Gas leaks can occur almost anywhere in your gas system, which can sometimes make them hard to detect.
Natural gas has no odor. Gas companies add a harmless chemical called mercaptan to give it its distinctive “rotten egg” smell.
However, sniffing gasoline intentionally could lead you to addiction—and even toxicity. In turn, that could result in harmful health consequences. In other words, don't let your enjoyment of gasoline fumes go any farther than the indirect aroma of the gas station.
Inhalants are substances such as petrol, paint and glue that give off fumes at room temperature. The fumes are sniffed and are quickly absorbed into the lungs and bloodstream to give the user an immediate 'high'.
The neurological explanation of fragrance addiction could be that individuals experience a higher secretion of dopamine when they use a fragrance, and thus they eventually get addicted to the fragrance. There are certain fragrances like those of wet earth, coffee, gasoline, or glue that are addictive by nature.
2.22 The inhalation of petrol fumes can immediately induce euphoria, relaxation, dizziness, increased libido, aggression, hunger and ataxia (loss of coordination of the muscles), with symptoms lasting sometimes up to six hours.
These odors seem attractive because when we smell them, our brain activates a circuit linked to pleasure and reward. It will then release serotonin and dopamine, the hormones of happiness.
It was released in 2010, and it's a fresh scent with a warm, creamy base. Some of the notes include black currant, pear, sambac jasmine, cashmere, wood, and vanilla. This fragrance is smooth, chic, and feminine.
Odorants are chemical additives that are mixed in with natural gas during the odorization process to add an artificial smell to the gas. These odorants are added as a safety precaution, as natural gas in its pure state is completely odourless.
Chlorine gas has a very strong odor, which is one of the tell-tale signs of a leak. The smell is similar to that of ammonia or bleach and will be extremely unpleasant to anyone who comes into contact with it.
When these chemicals enter the body they release dopamine and can cause a euphoric effect (in addition to raising the risk of cancer, neurological problems, and respiratory disease). So these smells may be appealing or even addictive in a similar way to opiates, which also release dopamine.
Hyperosmia is a rare condition in which the sense of smell is super-charged. Because it's so rare, scientists don't know much about the condition. Some illnesses, such as migraines, are associated with hyperosmia. While some of us are better smellers than others, most of us are better at it than we might realize.
“Our noses can act as a compass to find suitable partners for two reasons: pheromones and MHC, the genes that compose a significant part of our immune system,” Frederick says. These genes then produce certain molecules, she explains, which define our unspoken, and unconscious, attraction to others.
Gasoline is a refined product of petroleum consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons, additives, and blending agents. The composition of gasolines varies widely, depending on the crude oils used, the refinery processes available, the overall balance of product demand, and the product specifications.
Maternal exposure to "gasoline or exhaust" was associated with an increased risk of childhood leukaemia (HR = 2.59; 95%CI: 1.03, 6.48) and acute lymphatic leukaemia (HR = 2.71; 95%CI: 0.97, 7.58). There was an increasing risk for higher exposure (p value for trend = 0.032 and 0.027).
Olfactophilia or osmolagnia is a paraphilia for, or sexual arousal by, smells and odors emanating from the body, especially the sexual areas. Sigmund Freud used the term osphresiolagnia in reference to pleasure caused by odors.